HC Deb 22 August 1940 vol 364 c1451
48. Mr. Hely-Hutchinson

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have under consideration the modification of existing Governmental machinery in such a way as to deal effectively with the many problems requiring immediate local decisions in areas affected by the threat of invasion?

Mr. Attlee

The Regional Organisation for Civil Defence is well adapted to meet the situation which my hon. Friend has in mind, and considerable powers have been devolved upon Regional Commissioners and senior departmental representatives in the Regions with the object of ensuring that necessary decisions may be taken without delay. If my hon. Friend will indicate any particular point on which difficulty has arisen, I shall be happy to have inquiry made.

Mr. Hely-Hutchinson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Regional Commissioners are themselves too highly departmentalised to deal effectively with these local problems promptly?

Mr. Attlee

They should not be.

Mr. Lipson

Is it the fact that they have local controllers who can act?